How to link Aadhaar with Ration Card

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Link Aadhaar With Ration Card
Table Of Contents
How to Link Your Aadhaar Card with Ration Card Offline
What is a Ration Card?
How to Link Aadhaar to Ration Card through SMS
Why is Linking Aadhaar with Ration Card Important?

Linking your Aadhaar Card with your Ration Card can be done online through the Public Distribution System (PDS) portal of your state. 

Here are the steps to follow:

  • Visit the official website of your state’s PDS portal.
  • Enter your Ration Card number in the designated field.
  • Provide your Aadhaar number.
  • Input your registered mobile number.
  • Click on the continue/submit button to proceed.
  • Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number to complete the process.

Note: Each state has its own portal for this process as there is no centralized portal for linking Aadhaar with Ration Cards.

Linking your Aadhaar Card with your Ration Card offline is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to complete the linkage:

  • Make photocopies of the Aadhaar cards of all family members and a photocopy of the Ration Card.
  • Include a photocopy of your bank passbook if your Aadhaar card is not already linked to your bank account.
  • Obtain a passport-sized photograph of the head of the family.
  • Submit all these documents to your local ration office or Public Distribution System (PDS)/ration shop.
  • Provide fingerprint identification on their sensors to authenticate your information against the Aadhaar database.
  • Receive a notification via SMS or email once the submitted documents have reached the relevant department.
  • The authorities will process your documents, and once the Ration Card is successfully linked with the Aadhaar cards, you will be notified accordingly.

What is a Ration Card?

A ration card is a government-issued document that allows households to purchase essential commodities like rice, wheat, sugar, and kerosene at subsidized prices. Designed to support low-income families, ration cards are a key component of the public distribution system (PDS) aimed at ensuring food security and reducing poverty. There are various categories of ration cards, including Above Poverty Line (APL), Below Poverty Line (BPL), and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), each offering different benefits based on the household's economic status.

Linking your Aadhaar Card to your Ration Card through SMS is a simple process. Follow these steps:

  • Compose an SMS with the following format: "UID SEED <State Short Code> <Scheme/Program Short Code> <Scheme/Program ID> <Aadhaar Number>". For example, you can send "UID SEED MH POSC 9876543 123478789012" to 51969.
  • Send the SMS to 51969.
  • Receive notifications confirming the receipt of your information, successful verification, and the successful linkage of your Aadhaar Card to your Ration Card.

By following these steps, you can easily link your Aadhaar Card to your Ration Card via SMS.
 

Why is Linking Aadhaar with Ration Card Important?

Linking your Aadhaar Card with your Ration Card is crucial for several reasons:

  • Preventing Duplicate Ration Cards: The government can eliminate duplicate ration cards, ensuring that each family has only one valid card, thereby reducing fraud and misuse.
  • Excluding Ineligible Beneficiaries: Linking Aadhaar helps in identifying and excluding individuals whose income exceeds the eligibility criteria for ration subsidies, ensuring that only those who truly need the benefits receive them.
  • Ensuring Accurate Identification: A linked Aadhaar-Ration Card serves as a reliable proof of identity and residency, streamlining the distribution of subsidized food grains and fuel.
  • Enhancing Efficiency: The integration allows for a biometric-enabled distribution system, making it easier for Public Distribution System (PDS) stores to identify legitimate beneficiaries and ensuring that subsidies reach the right people.
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